In the same week that Sir Paul McCartney
recreated the iconic Beatles, ‘Abbey Road’ album cover, this new play set at
Abbey Road Studios was given a pre Edinburgh Fringe preview at the Wharf, the
home of Romiley Little Theatre.
Written by Jayne Marshall and directed by
award winning writer, Rob Johnston, the play set in 1975 begins with a burnt-out musician struggling to record the last track of his much anticipated second
album. With his creative juices running dry he is forced to confront his past
when he receives an unexpected visit from a long lost childhood friend.
In fifty compelling minutes, it is
gradually revealed that both the musician and his childhood friend are tightly
bound by failures and secrets from the past that will unite them forever.
Through flashback we get to glimpse what some of these are and see how their
once strong relationship became broken.
The characters are simply referred to as
Roger and Syd and on one level many who watch this engaging and hugely
enjoyable production will view it is as a play about lost friendships, disappointment
and drug abuse. To others however it will be abundantly clear that Marshall has
written an absorbing two-hander that takes its inspiration from the story of
Pink Floyd and in particular the relationship between founder members, Syd Barrett
and Roger Waters. The title, Cry For The Moon, is taken from, ‘Shine On
You Crazy Diamond’, which Waters
wrote about Barrett.
Barrett as is depicted in the play did turn
up unrecognised at Abbey Road at the recording of Wish You Were Here in June 1975. Perhaps one of the most famous and
celebrated acid casualties of the 60’s and 70’s, Barrett was responsible for
much of Pink Floyd’s earlier success. When dropped from the band because of his
erratic behaviour and unreliability Barrett still turned up at gigs fully
expecting to play.
To make the play work for audiences with
either some or no knowledge of the Barrett/Waters relationship Marshall has ingeniously
chosen to have the character Syd played by an actress. This cleverly
distances direct comparisons but also to those in the know hints at an
androgynous quality to Barrett’s personality. Rebecca Fenwick in the role gives
a dynamic and spell-binding performance, none more so than when acting out a full-on LSD trip and psychedelic experience. Adam Urey brilliantly conveys Roger’s
insecurities knowing that he owes his success to someone he has left behind.
Cry
For The Moon packs into fifty minutes more drama and emotional highs and
lows than many plays twice its length. Playing at the Greenside at Nicholson
for the first two weeks of the Edinburgh Fringe a visit to see this great new
play is highly recommended.
Reviewer - Richard Hall
on - 28/7/18
Well done Rebecca you little star
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